Posts Tagged: Bans

Encounters / Humour — 41 Comments
5
Nov 08

Ramadoss meets Devadoss

Scene : Flower decked khota in Kolkata. Devadoss has just walked in and ordered some sharaab, shabaab and kabaab. He closes his eyes in blissful anticipation of a debauched night that will help him forget Paro. A prod to his ribs makes him open his eyes. Instead of the seductive Chandramukhi, there’s a middle-aged man with a strict moustache eyeing him critically. Devadoss is stupefied.

Devadoss : Hey, who are you? Where’s Chandramukhi?

Ramadoss (graciously) : Good evening. I am Anbumani Ramadoss. Anbu means love in Tamil. So when I heard that this place gives anbu for money, I realized it’s the right place for Anbumani. Hehehe. Incidentally I’ll be your host for the evening.

D : You???? But this is a pleasure palace. It’s a Khota.

R : Not anymore. We have changed the classification of this place from khota to quota. Therefore I have control over it. And believe me, I am going to make this a model institution. With noble AIIMS.

D : Er, how?

READ ON →

Serious — 11 Comments
7
Oct 08

Just who is the public?

The smoker is not public. He’s a disease-spewing addict who needs to be banished to dark corners. He will be ostracised.

The homosexual is not public. He’s a deviant who needs to be driven into the closet. He will be denied medical care.

The artist is not public. He’s just an inconsiderate lout who needs to be taught not to offend anyone’s sensibilities. He will be mobbed.

The missionary is not public. He’s an evil do-gooder who lures innocent illiterates from their true religion by promising them food, clothing, education & dignity. He will be slaughtered.

The immigrant is not public. He is an invader who has come to corrupt culture by talking, dressing & behaving differently. He will be looted.

The youth are not public. They are just wastrels of voting age who are abandoning the lifestyle we have championed for 5000 years. They will be jailed.

The rich are not public. They are merely achievers who use their wealth to wallow in decadence and luxury. They will be curbed.

The poor are not public. They are ignorant animals who will be kept in poverty so that their servility is permanent. They will be exploited.

Who then is the public? In whose name are the laws of our land made? Whose good do they mean when they talk of the ‘greater good’?

The corrupt. The fanatic. The bigot. The intolerant. The powerful. The numerous. The mob.

Yup, it makes sense. The mob is the majority. And democracy, they say, is rule by the majority.